School Uniforms: A Sense of Belonging, A Source of Pride

Most schools in Australia require their students to wear the prescribed school uniform, even if school shorts can sometimes look silly. Some people think this takes away the individuality of the student, and over the years, have succeeded somewhat in making the rules less strict. But, there is a reason schools continue to encourage students to wear school uniforms today, even though the law does not require them to do so.

Discipline

Students today tend to have less discipline than those who came before them. The increasing emphasis on individuality and self-expression has encouraged less structure in schools. This can be a good thing in some ways. But, too much freedom can also have negative consequences for young people who are still developing. Children still need rules and regulations to feel secure, and one way to provide them with this is by encouraging them to wear school uniforms.

Belonging

People are social animals. They need to feel that they belong to a group, and you can more easily feel accepted if you are all wearing the same thing. School uniforms give children a sense of belonging that they may not feel as much if they could wear whatever they like in school. It also encourages a sense of equality among students. It makes it harder for people to make judgments about others who may dress differently, or not as well.

Pride

Part of having a sense of belonging is having pride in their school. Since children spend many years as students, it is important that they feel they are part of something worthwhile. They feel a sense of pride when their school performs well in sports, or if a fellow student excels. This can motivate them to make an effort to make their school proud of them as well.

School uniforms may be an old tradition, but it is far from obsolete. Some things transcend the passage of time, and the need of students for discipline, belonging, and pride remain constant.